Dear Pastors and Praying Friends,             May 20, 2020

What an amazing time to be alive! Covid 19 is upon us. The media has been feeding us surreal stories of governments shutting borders, food and tissue paper shortages and unbelievable counts of infected people.  We have also seen images of people wearing masks, empty city streets and exhausted medical workers.  Federal and State offices are closed. Multi-billion dollar businesses around the world are shutting their doors and sending people home. Finally, churches have been advised, and in some cases, mandated to shut their doors. All of these events sound like something out of a dramatic movie.

In spite of all the craziness around us, our church and family are doing well.  In Arkansas we have seen minimal affects of the virus.  My employer has not sent anyone home as my job, a grocery store employee, makes me an essential worker.  Our children are homeschooled, so the only change in their schedule has been no weekly library trips because the library is closed. 

Our Governor has only issued recommendations to churches, not mandates. We have not had to cancel any morning services, but many other churches around us have chosen to close their doors and hold services online or in their parking lots.  A few families of like faith have joined our Sunday morning services until their churches resume their services.  

The other day I was preparing for our midweek Bible study. We are currently studying the book of First Peter.  As Peter opened the letter I was amazed at how fitting his introduction is to the times that we are living in now.  He writes, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout…”  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.” 1 Peter 1:1a, 5, 6.  This passage makes reference to the church being scattered due to persecution. Today many believers are without a church due to concerns of infection and government direction.  For the first time, as I read this passage, I can empathize a little more the uncertainty and stress the early scattered believers must have experienced back then because of our uncertain times now.  Peter took on the role of an encourager.  Our people need to be encouraged during these uncertain times, but not in the politically correct way of, “be safe” or “we can do it .” But rather exercise wisdom in our daily encounters. We should also remember the sure salvation that we have and the sovereignty and faithfulness of the God we serve. 

• Please pray that our church would seek God for comfort and growth.  
• My wife is expecting a baby girl in September.  Please join us in prayer for a safe pregnancy and delivery.  

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist Church

June Letter

June 24, 2019

Hello Pastors and Praying Friends, 

 This Sunday God gave me liberty to speak on a subject that I know is right,
but few want to talk about.  The whole service was quiet until I came to my
closing points.
There were times during the message that you could hear a pin drop. 
On occasion, one of our men in church gave several distinct “Amens” which,
in a way, gave permission for others to give some holy grunts. 
What was the subject that I preached so passionately about ?
- The Dangers of Homosexuality. My goal was to show that God is
as opposed to the sin of Homosexuality in the New Testament as He was
in the Old Testament.  In light of Gay Pride month, I wanted to remind our
people that God has not changed his mind on this topic; and neither should we. 

These past several months we have celebrated several holidays
that have been a blessing to our church.   In our Church we have a
high number of single mothers. Highlighting the parts of God’s word on
biblical fatherhood and motherhood have been good for us. 
We compared our society’s view verses God’s view. We encouraged our
members to trust God by faith and to do His will. Finally, we honored the mothers
and fathers in our services.  Our people were blessed as we witnessed visitors,
expressions of joy, love and fellowship.

Family News

Our family is doing well.  We have been enjoying this wonderful spring weather.

We even started a garden. 

My daughters both celebrated their birthdays.

Aaliyah is now 10 and Cassidy is now 8 years old.  As you may remember ,

we have been watching my wife’s nieces and nephew for the past year.

Well, the nieces and nephew have gone back to live with their mother in Oklahoma. 

We pray that God would continue to keep them in church and that they would

grow in their knowledge of Christ. 

We are so grateful to have a part in God’s work. 

God has been faithful in his protection, provision and care of us. 

Thank you for your prayers, support and love. God bless and take care!

In His Service, 

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist Church

Newport, Arkansas

2018 - A Year in Review

BLESSED!

"O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him". Psalm 34:8

Dear Pastors and Praying Friends,

The definition of the word "blessed", according to Webster, is to be held in reverence; honored in worship; of or enjoying happiness; or as bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune.

If I were to sum up our year in one word, it would be the word "blessed".  Not because we experienced more good than anyone else; but because we are grateful for what we did receive in the year 2018.

We saw many new faces in church.  Many decisions were made by those among us to live for God. It appears that our influence in Newport is growing.  In this year alone, six of my associates at Walmart have frequented our services.

One of our members in still with us...and is now cancer free.  Many of the children who were preschoolers when we first arrived are now teenagers.

Our son Brayden went to be with the Lord.  My nieces and nephew joined my children in our homeschool.  Last, but not least, all of our children are growing n their knowledge and understanding of the Lord...I could go on.

Yes. I would sum up our year with this one word.  BLESSED!

In His Service,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist Church

Newport, Arkansas 

July 2018

Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  - Matthew 5:14-16

We are having a wonderful Summer!  I hope you are as well.  A few of the highlights that I would like to share with you are 1.)  We FINALLY  were able to replace our church sign that blew away in a storm last year.  We mentioned the need to a group of friends and the Arkansas fellowship of pastors took care of it.  Praise the Lord!!!  2.)Three new families have been faithfully attending our services...two of which are my fellow employees at Wal-mart.  I pray daily for the Lord to use me to glorify him while I am working.  I have mentioned before that I know God uses my position there as a ministering tool.  Folks may not come to my church, but everyone in Newport goes by the meat wall at Wal-mart!  Many have promised to attend, a few have kept those promises.  I am really glad to see the families of my employees grow in the Lord as they attend our services.  They have begun to invite others from work to attend, and some of their friends and family have since visited. 

 3.) We recently celebrated two birthdays in our family. My daughters were born one day short of two years  apart.  My oldest girl turned 9 and our second born turned 7 on June 17th and 18th.  We enjoyed having the cousins here to join in celebrating with us.  Which brings me to the next point.   4.)  We are enjoying an extended visit from my nieces and nephew from Oklahoma. I have included a picture of our church sign just to the right.  My nieces and nephew were so kind to pose for the photo.  You can see the personality just bursting forth in the photo.  Pray for us and them! 

We are thankful for every day that the Lord allows us to try and make a positive impact on their lives.  Last Summer two of the three trusted the Lord.  We will see what the Lord will do this year.

 5.) Last of all, my wife and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary! Eleven years have flown by.  We have had challenges and such, but apart from salvation, my wife is the best gift I have received from the Lord. I am truly blessed!  Thank you for your continued financial and prayer support!

In His service,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist Church

Newport Arkansas

April Prayer Letter

April 23, 2018

Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,

 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. – Romans 14:8

     In our previous letter we asked for prayer regarding our son, Brayden.  He was diagnosed with Trisomy 18.  On Thursday, March 7^th, we went for his 36 week checkup, and found out that he had passed sometime that morning.  We know it had to have happened that morning because he was such an active little fella and that morning was no different.  Even the ultrasound tech thought he was sound asleep upon first glance because he had not yet begun to show any signs of death. You can imagine how shocked we were when we found no heartbeat.

     The doctors recommended that my wife try and go into labor naturally for the sake of her health, so she did.  March 11, 2018, Spring forward Sunday, she began to have contractions as she was preparing for church.  Once we were sure it was real labor we headed for the hospital just down the street.  He was delivered that afternoon at  just after 1:00.  We had a small memorial service on the following Thursday.  I am thankful for those who attended, two of which raised their hand for salvation.  As was  mentioned in the verse above, Brayden was the Lord’s while he lived in the womb; and Brayden is definitely the Lord’s now.  We are thankful for the opportunity to have been his family for the brief time that he was with us.  Of course, we would have preferred to have him with us now; but we trust our heavenly Father, who loves us more than we could ever imagine, to know what is best for Brayden and us.

Thank you for your continued prayer and support for our family and our church.  May the Lord continue His work in us.

In His Service,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist church

Newport, Arkansas

February News

Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,

Church News

1 Peter 4:10 " As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

Once again, I have much to share with you as it has been a while since our last letter.  I want to begin by thanking all of you who support us faithfully with your prayers, as well as financially. We do continue to see both spiritual and numerical growth in the church and are happy to be able to not only "trust" that God is working; but to "see" His work.  As the verse above states, we are commanded to minister to others in the church with the gifts that God gives to us when we are saved.  I am always happy when visitors show up, in fact, we have had a steady stream of visitors every Sunday for months.  I am especially excited to report that two people from my job have been faithfully attending for months now as well; but I am rejoicing today because I have seen our faithful people demonstrating the gifts that they have before, during, and after the services.  
     This is a very important aspect of "building" a church.  My family can do everything in our power to keep people in church; but when the members take it upon themselves to not only invite others to church, but to also show hospitality, encourage, and minister to each other; it is then that people start to stick around.

Family news

John 9:1-3 "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."

In our last letter we rejoiced over the fact that #5 is on the way.  Shortly after that letter, we received news that Brayden (#5) is faced with many challenges.  The doctors believe he has trisomy 18 which is a chromosomal disorder.  Our first visit to the geneticist after the diagnosis left us with very little hope.  The ultrasound showed that he had issues from the top of his head to the bottom of his little feet.  We set up an appointment for the next visit; but did not believe he would be with us that long...but he was and still is!  The second visit showed problems, but they were fewer.  The third visit showed fewer still.  Of course, the doctors are still giving us no hope of his survival or living a "normal" life; but we are asking God to do a mighty work in this "impossible" situation.  Regardless, we know with Christ there is always hope!  This is the difference between the saved and the lost.  We are blessed to be able to approach the throne of grace on our son's behalf because of the work of Christ.  The lost have to accept what the professionals tell them.  Would you join us in prayer about our precious son?  Thanks again for your faithful prayers and support!

Prayer requests:

1.  Our church to continue to experience spiritual and numerical growth.

2.  Favor in our community.

3.  Wisdom and finances to pay off the churches Mortgage supernaturally.

4.  Continued health and safety for our family.

5. Baby Brayden's miracle

6. Several others in our church who are facing health issues (cancer, kidney problems, lung/heart problems). I would love to share these situations with you in future updates as we are seeing the Lord work here as well.

In His Service,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist church

Newport, Arkansas

June - August Prayer Letter

Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.   Acts 2:47

I have much to share with you as it has been a while since our last letter.  I want to begin by thanking all of you who support us faithfully with your prayers, as well as financially! We  always ask for your prayers regarding our church's spiritual and numerical growth. We are happy to report that we are seeing both happen. 

In the middle of July,  our family went on vacation to California to visit family.  I never realize how much I need a vacation until I am leaving for vacation! We had a wonderful time of rest, relaxation, and renewal.  It was the first time for some of our family to meet our little Rayanna.  You can believe that the grandparents and grandkids thoroughly enjoyed one another; but their parents enjoyed having time alone together even more!

Once we returned home to Newport, we were greatly encouraged by how things went in the church while we were away.  Our people handled every aspect of the services themselves.  We even received reports from people in town who visited  that the service was a blessing to them.  We continue to see the hand of God in our services in a unique way since our return.  The first Thursday evening service we held in August we had about 15 visitors!  Most of whom have since returned.  Several of them have made professions of faith after our Sunday morning services.  We are scheduled to have a baptismal service next Sunday. What a blessing! PLEASE, keep these new believers lifted up in prayer! We can really see a hunger and thirst for righteousness in some of them.

Family news

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

                                                  Psalm 127:3

We have had an exciting year; but these past few months have been packed with events -  vacation, three birthdays, our wedding anniversary, stomach viruses, and  the news that we are to expect baby #5 sometime around March 24th!  God truly has been good to us.

Prayer requests:

1.  Our church to continue to experience spiritual and numerical growth.

2.  Favor in our community.

3.  Wisdom and finances to pay off the churches Mortgage supernaturally.

4.  Continued health and safety for our family.

Thanks again for your faithful prayers and support!

In His Service,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist church

Newport, Arkansas